Miniature TDA1543 DAC Brings the Goods

I came across a post on this little guy sometime late last year and forgot all about it until lately when I spotted it on ebay. Made by a Frenchman who was impressed enough with the TDA1543 to design his own dac. He appears to have other non-audio products and seems to know what he is doing so I took a chance. Runs on 9v and/or external PS. The 9v can even be used simultaneously to buffer the external PS. It's VERY small, maybe 2"x2", if that. Almost all SMD components. Clean, simple board. Delivery time from France was just over a week.

And it sounds marvelous. Out the box, depth and instrument separation is very impressive. Articulation of each note, reminiscent of the DACiT. No sign yet of NOS 'warmth' or roll-off. Instead it's agile and transparent but with the musicality of a NOS. And this is with a crappy SMPS.

It's ridiculous you can get this kind of performance for $100. Ridiculous. Unfortunately I don't remember the forum where I read about this dac in greater detail last year, so I can't provide more info or feedback other than what's presented on ebay.

A lot will depend on what the rest of your system looks like, and what your musical preferences are. Loads of great affordable DACs out there right now. Be sure you have familiarized yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of NOS DACs. That is a biggie (just like passive vs. active preamps, and battery vs. AC). Much will depend on your preferences and the type of music you listen to.

A lot will depend on what the rest of your system looks like, and what your musical preferences are. Loads of great affordable DACs out there right now. Be sure you have familiarized yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of NOS DACs. That is a biggie (just like passive vs. active preamps, and battery vs. AC). Much will depend on your preferences and the type of music you listen to.

I had a NOS DAC a couple of years ago, which used the 1543 DAC. It was sweet, warm, musical. I loved it, until I foolished played with it, trying to improve it. I replaced the output caps (Siemens), hoping to improve on the transparency and bass definition. And, I regreted it. I also misplaced the Siemens cap, so I couldn't go back.

Anyhow, on eBay, there are also similar DACs, doubling up with the TDA1543. I wonder IF this configuration gives a better sound. Anyone?

I had a NOS DAC a couple of years ago, which used the 1543 DAC. It was sweet, warm, musical. I loved it, until I foolished played with it, trying to improve it. I replaced the output caps (Siemens), hoping to improve on the transparency and bass definition. And, I regreted it. I also misplaced the Siemens cap, so I couldn't go back.

Anyhow, on eBay, there are also similar DACs, doubling up with the TDA1543. I wonder IF this configuration gives a better sound. Anyone?

From my (limited) experience, the competence of the designer trumps the parts used when it comes to DACs. The Muse for instance uses 4X TDA1543 but falls short of this single chip board - at least in stock form. This Frenchman seems to know what he is doing and did not make the board just to sell. Then there are other factors that I believe fall into this mini's favor like the use of SMDs, which coupled with the minimal space used, significantly reduces signal paths and potentially minimizes issues which can affect larger PCBs with leaded components - but this is admittedly over my head so maybe someone else can chime in here. Plus the separate PS regulators for analog and digital is a plus and is pretty rare for this price range. Finally, unless he has some connection along with his other products, I don't think he is pulling much of a profit from these boards (I don't they're even listed on his website).

"The technical background you need to know is that at the audio output of a DAC chip you have a signal which is mostly current. The output stage of a DAC device always does something called I/U conversion. I/U conversion means conversion from current to voltage. You need to raise the voltage which comes out of the DAC chip. That's what I/U conversion achieves. Now, to carry out I/U conversion, you can do it actively or passively. If you do it actively, then the DAC chip's audio output leg is not under a load. But if you do it passively by means of an output transformer, then what happens is that the DAC chip's audio output leg receives a load. So one solution to overcome this is to use two (or more) DAC chips in parallel so that the DAC chips' output legs now generate a higher current (the curents are added). This higher current can then better handle the load presented by the transformer. This is the only reason multiple DAC chips are used per channel, regardless of what various marketing may state.

In the past, when the technology of DAC chips were limited to only 16 bits, this method also was used in order to better the linearity of the DAC chip's performance at low signal levels. However, this linearity issue is entirely moot now that DAC chip technologies have advanced to 24 bits. You may like to know that we have tried this method of stacking DAC chips. If you continue to add converter chips, then you run into distortion and noise due to overly complex design issues. The most elegant solution is to use one converter chip per channel, but to make sure it is the very best chip and to give it pristine, even ideal, electrical conditions to work under. This includes an active output stage of the best possible quality to keep all load off of the DAC output signal leg and to guarantee the best and cleanest possible I/U conversion"

More info please for those of us to whom the term DIY means fire, lots and lots of fire Info such as is there a case avaialble? Real world comparisons with other DAC's...etc...

No case. He will add a 9v connector for additional cost, and 12v power supplies (cheap SMPS or something like Pangea/Musical Fidelity 12v) are easy enough to find, so no need to DIY. Just won't be much to look at.